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Home , Elihu (Job), Leviathan

SERMON NOTES & DISCUSSION QUESTIONS FOR NOVEMBER 22, 2020

SERMON PASSAGE: Chapters 29-41

THE BOTTOM LINE: God is in control of all things, including your suffering and He knows more than you.

SERMON NOTES: Introduction: Summary: Retribution Principle: The righteous prosper, and the wicked suffer. God gives good for good, bad for bad. (Steve Mathewson) Last week, we had three cycles of conversation between Job, , & . This week we are working through a sequence of three speeches: Speech #1—Job Claims His Innocence (Chapters 29-31) Speech #2— Confronts Job & His Friends (Chapters 32-37) Speech #3—God Confounds Everyone with His Wisdom (Chapters 38-41) Notes:

Speech #1—Job Claims His Innocence (Chapters 29-31) Summary: Job longs for things to return to the way they were before. He misses his family, his position, and his intimate relationship with God. He maintains his innocence and therefore sees his suffering as unjust according to the rules of the retribution principle. Job believes that God is to blame for his suffering. God is persecuting him. Notes: Speech #2—Elihu Confronts Job & His Friends (Chapters 32-37) Summary: Elihu is a young and brash bystander. He is angry that Job has won the debate against Eliphaz, Bildad & Zophar. Elihu believes that Job is in the wrong and defends God. However, he sees Job’s suffering not as a direct punishment for sin but as God’s attempt to break Job’s self- righteousness and keep him from greater sin in the future. Elihu believes that God is responsible for Job’s suffering. God is sanctifying him. Notes:

Speech #3—God Confounds Everyone with His Wisdom (Chapters 38-41) Summary: God’s interaction with Job is exactly what Job need to not just keep his faith but possess an unshakable faith. God presents Job with the complexities of the universe, from controlling the waves and the sun to providing for the needs of various animals. God challenges Job to consider if he has the wisdom necessary to run this world. God asks Job if he really wants the responsibility of executing judgment over all of humanity, even for a day. God finishes by presenting the and , the greatest of land and creatures yet, creatures that are under God’s control.1 The point of all of this is that God is saying, “I AM in Control of Your Suffering; I Know More than You.” Supporting Verses: Job 1:12 Job 2:6 Genesis 50:20 Acts 4:27-28 Notes:

1 There are many theories behind the identity of the Behemoth and Leviathan. Some believe they are describing a and crocodile. Others think they are land and sea dinosaurs. Still others think they are describing mythical creatures representing and danger or representing death and . The point is that these are creatures or things that no human could ever contain or control. But whatever they are, or represent, they must submit to God. Discussion Questions for Families & Groups: What stood out from the message this week? Have you ever gone to the beach and tried to hold back the tide from coming in? (Maybe when you were building a sandcastle and the waves were threatening to destroy it.) Have you ever tried to follow a wild animal, like a deer or an ostrich, to see where and how it cares for its family? Have you ever wondered if one day we’ll travel to Mars? Is it even conceivable to think that one day we’ll travel outside our own solar system? Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be God for a day? In times of suffering, have you ever thought that you could “out-god” God? Have you thought you could do a better job than he can? As a family or a group read through Job 38-41. Take your time. Have each person in your group read at least a paragraph or two. Don’t get caught up in wondering about specific details. Instead, allow what God is saying to amaze you and humble you. Then, as a group, pray through Job’s response in Job 42:1-6.